Barrhaven Independent December 11, 2020

BARRHAVEN

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FRIDAY • December 11 • 2020

Council approves extending light rail transit to Barrhaven

By Charlie Senack

Ottawa’s city council has voted in favour of a plan to bring light rail transit to Barrhaven in the distant future.

On Wednesday, November 25, council voted to go ahead with the controversial Phase 3 LRT expansion, which will bring the 10 kilometre extension to the confederation line, from Baseline Station at Algonquin College to the core of Barrhaven at Marketplace Station. Eighteen councillors voted in favour of extending LRT to Barrhaven under the current plan, with four voting against.

The line won’t be built anytime soon; first Phase 2 will have to be complete and that won’t be until 2025.

The city also needs to secure funding from upper levels of

government to bring the project into fruition.

The functional design council voted in favour of includes having 2.4 kilometres of rail travel from Algonquin College to the Nepean Sportsplex over an elevated structure. The remaining 7.6 kilometres of track from the Sportsplex to the Barrhaven Town Centre will be laid out on the existing transit way. This plan would also include three new bridges to be built. Two of them would be over the VIA Rail line at Woodroffe Avenue and the southwest transitway and Fallowfield Road.

The third would be a belowgrade rail that would be dug out to pass under Berrigan Drive, Marketplace Avenue and Chapman Mills Drive in Barrhaven.

lrt continues on page 3

This artist’s rendition shows two bridges to be built near Woodroffe and Fallowfield when Phase 3 light rail into Barrhaven is completed.

City of Ottawa Illustration

Happy Retirement, Kelly Ross 613-843-9413

Thank you Barrhaven for 18 greaT years

3777 strandherd Drive

Page 2 FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Holidays will be different, but they can still bring joy

Christmas is a week away, and this year is very different as we shop for gifts for the family and make other preparations for the holiday season. The one constant is making cookies.

This year, thanks to technology, I will be baking with the grandkids via zoom. It certainly is not the same, but I will look at it as simply a new tradition. As you know, I take great joy in all my grandchildren. They are without a doubt my #1 priority and it makes my heart sing to shop and indulge them all. My goal is always to find unique, individual gifts that others may not have thought about. Thankfully the shops are all open still and with a mask and some social-distancing, I am ready to support local businesses.

I hope that you have plans for the holidays that will bring joy and happiness. Wishing you all the happiest of holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukah. However, you gather with friends and family – have a wonderful time.

Ottawa Public Health - Be social wise during holidays and celebrations

Due to the high number of people testing positive for COVID-19, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) recommends keeping the number of people you interact with small: those in your household plus essential supports. For social gatherings, this can include limiting gatherings to those who live in your household and those providing essential support services such as a caregiver. If you live alone (single parent, student, etc.), one or two contacts outside your home can be important social supports to draw on.

Holidays and celebrations are going to look and feel different during the COVID-19 pandemic. All individuals should assess their own level of risk, and the health of every person in their household, when deciding how to celebrate. If anyone in your household is at higher risk from COVID-19, everyone should choose lower risk activities to keep them safe.

Some things to note before you start planning: Current provincial gathering limits are 10 people indoors and 25 people outdoors.

These limits cannot be com-

LET’S TALK

BARRHAVEN

by Jan Harder

bined (for example: it is NOT permitted to host 35 people, with 25 people outdoors and 10 people indoors).

In addition to older adults, people who have serious underlying medical conditions (such as: cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, chronic lung disease, chronic liver disease, cancer, are immunocompromised) are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

Council approves design for Barrhaven LRT

Light rail transit will extend to Barrhaven if upper levels of government invest in the $3-billion project. City Council approved extending LRT by 10 kilometres and seven stations from Baseline Station to Barrhaven Town Centre. The design includes three crossings to separate VIA Rail tracks from Woodroffe Avenue, the southwest Transitway and Fallowfield Road, along with interim measures to make transit more efficient and reliable along Woodroffe Avenue.

Council previously approved an environmental assessment to extend LRT to Kanata and Stittsville. Together with the Barrhaven extension, these projects comprise Stage 3 of LRT.

City launches virtual sign language service

Residents who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech-impaired can now connect with a sign language interpreter to access real-time interpretation for telephone calls to the City. The City launched this new video relay service as part of International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Using Canada Video Relay Service, people with hearing or speech disabilities would connect with a sign language interpreter via video conference before calling the City at 613-580-2400. The interpreter would then connect the caller with the City, relaying conver-

sations between both parties.

This new service provides an alternative to TTY calls, but the City will still offer residents both options. The video relay service allows callers to express themselves in their first language, American Sign Language (ASL) or Langue des signes québécoise (LSQ) when communicating with the City. For more information find there website at this address: https://srvcanadavrs.ca/en/

Indoor public skating will be available at eleven City arenas

Indoor public skating will be available by reservation at eleven City arenas in Nepean Sportsplex, Walter Baker Sports Centre, Manotick Community Centre and Mike O’Neil Arena: Since skating capacity will be limited to 25 skaters on each rink, you can reserve your 50-minute skate time up to two days in advance.

Payment options for the admission fee vary at each arena.

Please check ottawa.ca for more information.

Children age 10 and under must be accompanied by one parent or guardian – on-ice or as a spectator. There is a maximum of one spectator per participant, with a capacity of 25 spectators total. Use of the player benches are restricted to the skaters only.

Skaters and spectators must also maintain two-metre physical distancing from people outside of their household. While masks are not required on the ice, they must be worn throughout the building.

Changerooms will be open but skaters are encouraged to arrive dressed to skate. Access to the arena and changerooms will be allowed 15 minutes prior to and after the skate. Remember, a CSA-certified hockey helmet is required for children aged 10 and under.

Additional arenas will open for the holiday public skating schedule to run from December 19 to January 5. The selected arena locations follow the hub model to concentrate service resumption at key facilities that are geographically distributed across the city and better suited to maintain public health protocols.

This holiday season needs to be different.

The safest way to celebrate indoors is only with the people who live in your home. People who live alone can get together only with one other home.

Gatherings with friends and extended family can carry an increased risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.

Consider celebrating outdoors or virtually with others that are not part of your household.

Know the gathering limits in your area before you choose to entertain with family and friends indoors. Indoor gatherings are not permitted in regions in Grey- Lockdown.

For all gatherings with anyone you do not live with: • maintain 2 metres physical distance • wear a face covering • avoid potlucks or shared utensils • ensure everyone washes hands regularly, including before and after meals Self-isolate if you are sick, even if your symptoms are mild and ask guests to stay home if they feel unwell.

Follow provincial and local public health advice to keep you and your loved ones safe this holiday.

Stopping the spread, starts with you.

Visit ontario.ca/celebratesafely to learn more.

Paid for by the Government of Ontario

FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 Page 3

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT LRT continues from page 1 Under this plan, however, 120 low-income homes would have to be bulldozed, leaving about 300 people homeless.

The townhomes which are situated in the Manor Village and Cheryl Garden Communities, rent for about $1200 a month and are considered on the low income scale. Those who live there have spent the past few weeks protesting, including at Mayor Jim Watson’s Ottawa-West Nepean home.

“They are frightened about losing their affordable housing,” said Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney during Wednesday’s meeting. “Housing does not exist that can absorb them.”

The residents say it would be almost impossible to find a family-sized home at their same rent with both a backyard and front yard. The decision comes at a time Ottawa is in an affordable housing

and homelessness crisis, with multiple groups calling upon the city to invest more into these vulnerable groups.

Smart Living Properties, which purchased the homes from Minto in September of this year, say they are working in improving the existing units while they wait for clarity from the city regarding the LRT project. Even if all goes ahead as planned, the demolition will be years away.

Knoxdale-Merivale Coun. Keith Egli, whose ward includes the affected townhomes, says he spoke with Smart Living Properties who reassures him they won’t be evicting any of the residents over the winter months while the COVID-19 pandemic continues.

Egli also put forward a motion to have city staff look into the possibility of building new affordable housing opportunities at 40 Beechcliffe Street, which

is a plot of land owned by the city, situated in the same neighborhood.

The Knoxdale-Merivale councillor believes a working group which has just been launched can come up with a solution.

Whether you are thinking of buying a home, purchasing an investment property, refinancing or switching your mortgage, I can provide you with expert advice that answers your unique borrowing needs.

Talk to your local CIBC Mobile Mortgage Advisor today: Jacklyn Sparling Mobile Mortgage Advisor 613 314-0263 1 844 967-0320 jacklyn.sparling@cibc.com cibc.com/mortgages

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Page 4 FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Kelly Ross retiring after 18 years at Your Independent Grocer As we celebrate our 30th Anniversary, the Barrhaven Independent will be featuring 30 people who have played a prominent role in building, shaping and inspiring our community from the time we were a sleepy little suburb in 1990 to the thriving city of more than 100,000 we are now.

In this issue, we are featuring Kelly Ross. A true leader and philanthropist in the community, Kelly will be retiring Jan. 2, 2021, marking the end of an era in the community.

By Jeff Morris It will be the end of an era in Barrhaven.

On Jan. 2, 2021, Kelly Ross will be retiring. Ross’ Your Independent Grocer will become just Your Independent Grocer. The staff will remain in place and things will continue day-today, but for the first time in 18 years, Kelly Ross will not be there to meet and greet customers.

“It’s bitter sweet,” Ross said. “I’m looking forward to retiring after 18 years of not having long weekends or holidays, but serving the community is what I love to do.”

Ross made the decision to retire earlier this year. She will be leaving behind nearly a generation of memories, friendships and community philanthropy, as well as a legacy built by her and her late husband, Ken. To mark her last month in the store, they will be giving away daily prizes and popup prizes from now through Jan. 2.

“One of the things I am going to miss the most is seeing my friends every few days,” Ross said. “Yes I am serving them or helping them when they are in the store, but I have so many friends in the community and I am lucky that I get to see them on a regular basis. I will really miss that.”

While Ross said she will miss her friends in the community, she will really miss her staff.

“They are like family,” she said. “We have an amazing group of people in the store. And there is no other way to put it. They are like family to me, and to each other. I am really going to miss seeing them every day.”

One of the things that has made Ross’ Your Independent Grocer stand out through most of the last two decades has been its commitment to the community, and the store’s sense of community within its four walls. That atmosphere was created in 2002, when Barrhaven was a much smaller community than it is now.

“It really is a meeting place for a lot of people,” she said. “On any given day, I can walk through the store and there will be friends or people who know each other stopped in the aisles catching up because they ran into each other here. It has become a real meeting place for people, and it helps them stay connected to the community.”

Ross said she has made friendships and gotten to know “thousands of people” over her 18 years at the store. She also said that many of the store’s customers have developed longtime friendships with the staff members.

“It really speaks about the family atmosphere our staff has,” Ross said. “Customers know the staff members by name, and it’s not unusual to see them catching up as friends or showing family pictures to our staff members on their phones.”

Ross also said many of the friendships and relationships have been longterm.

“What has been remarkable is that there are families that we have known because they have shopped here, and then their kids would get older and work here,” Ross said. “And then, in some cases, the kids would grow up and live in the area and shop here with their own families.”

Many of the friendships Ross made were through her charity endeavours. While Ken Ross was the face of the

Kelly Ross took over Ross’ Your Independent Grocer following the 2015 passing of her husband, Ken, who purchased the store in 2002. After 18 years at the store and serving the community, Kelly Ross is retiring Jan. 2. Jeff Morris file photo

Barrhaven BIA and the Barrhaven Food Cupboard, Kelly Ross was handling charity projects within the store.

Much of the fundraising was done on Saturday afternoons through the store’s barbecue and food truck. She looked after all of the churches, sports teams, schools, family medical fundraisers and community groups.

“I enjoyed coming out on Saturdays and working with the people and the groups,” Ross said. “I really got a chance to see all the different needs of the community.

The realization of the greater need in the community is greater than people think.”

Ross said one of the things she realized working with the different groups and fundraising events is that there are people in need everywhere.

“Just because there are nice houses in Barrhaven doesn’t mean there are needs,” she said. “Every family is in a different situation, and some of them have needs due to circumstances they are dealing with. Being there all the time, you hear their stories and you are able to help them. That’s one of

the things I am going to miss the most.”

Ross said she took an interest in fundraising at a young age.

“I remember being in Grade 6, collecting for Unicef and for Terry Fox,” she said. “It’s just something I have always been involved in.”

Ross did a lot of community fundraising that was not attached to or affiliated with the store. She was part of a group of women called “Sevin” that did a lot of fundraising for the Queensway Carleton Hospital.

Tragedy struck the Ross family and the staff in 2015 when Ken Ross passed away.

“If someone were to ask me if I would be able to run the store by myself, I would have said ‘no way,’ but after Ken passed, that’s the situation I was in,” she said. “I had two choices – sink or swim. And I wasn’t going to let everything Ken and I worked so hard for disappear.”

Not only did Ross have to move forward in the business without her husband, but she also had to deal with

a grieving staff.

“When you are in this position, your team looks at you for leadership,” she said. “They were worried the doors would be closing, and how we were going to pay the rent. I told them, ‘Mr. Ross would not want us to give up.’ We all grabbed the bull by the horns and moved forward.”

Ross said the tragedy galvanized the staff and made them even more of a family than they were before.

“I was proud of everyone on the staff, and I wanted them to be proud of me,” she said. “I wanted my family to be proud of me. I wanted to set an example for my kids.

I didn’t want them to worry about me. I also wanted to make Ken proud. It was really tough. Here we are, years later, and I still have people coming up to me and offering their condolences.”

While losing her husband and being able to move forward with the business was the most difficult challenge she has ever faced, Ross said there was also something that was very easy.

“The staff that had been with us for so many years

had my back,” she said.

“They wanted us to carry on.

They wanted us to succeed.

We also had the support of the community. The community wanted me to succeed. Many women pulled me aside to tell me that by moving forward it gave them inspiration and courage. That really took me by surprise.”

Ross said that the first part of her retirement from the store will be devoted to her family.

“Family has always been a priority, but now I will be able to spend a lot more time with my family,” she said. “I am looking forward to that, and I am looking forward to not being on call 24/7.”

Ross said that eventually, she will be doing something else. However, she is in no rush to jump into anything.

“Who knows what the future holds,” Ross said. “For now, I am just going to enjoy my family time and wait out COVID. But I am definitely going to be involved in something else. I just don’t know what it is yet.”

Whatever it is, there is no doubt Kelly Ross will be successful.

FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 Page 5

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

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Page 6 FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

INDEPENDENT Editorial

The natural divide The awkward municipal connection between east Barrhaven and the communities of Riverside South and Findlay Creek appears to be coming to an end.

The Ottawa Ward Boundary Review Consultant Team has recommended that the city increase the number of wards in the city from 23 to 24. Included in the recommendation is that Barrhaven would have two wards, meaning the end to the Gloucester-South Nepean Ward.

The team of consultants was originally working with five options for the reconfiguration of the wards, but Council requested a sixth option that would add one additional ward and have minimal boundary changes. The sixth option was requested to address the population growth in the Barrhaven, Gloucester-South Nepean and Cumberland wards.

The new council would see nine urban wards, 12 suburban wards and three rural wards. West Carleton and Rideau-Goulbourn will remain intact, while Osgoode and the rural part of Cumberland will be combined into one ward.

Ottawa’s ward boundaries last underwent a major review in 2005. Since then, the city’s population has grown significantly, especially in suburban wards. In June 2019, City Council directed City staff to retain an independent consultant to conduct a comprehensive review that will establish ward boundaries that could be used in at least three municipal elections (2022, 2026 and 2030) and possibly a fourth election in 2034.

The consultant team originally proposed five options. Councillors wanted a sixth option with the addition of one councillor and fewer ward changes.

That was the overwhelmingly popular choice on the public Zoom sessions we were on. It seemed to be a logical and easy solution, but we wonder why the team of consultants could not have come up with that one on their own.

We got the impression that they were not from Ottawa, and they did not understand the various social fabric of Ottawa.

Luckily, the public steered them in the right direction.

While Option 6 is a popular one for many people in Barrhaven, some, including Councillors Jan Harder and Carol Anne Meehan, and the WBCA’s Darrell Bartraw, would like to see the boundary between the two Barrhaven wards moved to Greenbank Road.

The proposed boundary, which follows Greenbank Road to Strandherd and then east to Longfields until it follows the Jock River, would give Barrhaven two balanced wards. However, having the boundary along Greenbank Road from Fallowfield all the way down to Barnsdale makes much more sense. The populations of the wards would be imbalanced now, but with the growth plans in Barrhaven, the two wards would balance out within one election term.

As council votes on this, we hope they listen to the politicians at the table who serve and understand the community rather than a handful of Toronto consultants.

BARRHAVEN

P.O. Box 567 Manotick, Ontario Tel: 613-692-6000 www.barrhavenindependent.on.ca

The Barrhaven Independent is published by Manotick Messenger Inc. biweekly at P.O. Box 567 in Manotick, Ontario. The Barrhaven Independent is not responsible for the loss of unsolicited manuscripts, photos, or other material used for publication purposes. Letters will be edited for length, clarity and libellous statements. Display, National and Classified rates are available on request.

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It’s time to bring out the Scrabble board When I was a kid, there seemed to be no friends came over. We had a game at work better way to spend a winter evening. and sometimes played on our lunch break.

I think back to those days often. There Downstairs, they played Euchre. Upstairs, would be a Saturday morning and afternoon we played Scrabble. It didn’t make us betspent skiing. It wasn’t just skiing, it was al- ter, but we sure acted like it did. ways skiing hard.

Scrabble was a big deal back then. I was By the end of the day, I was wiped out. living in Seattle, and from 2003 to 2006 the My father and I got into this routine. U.S. Scrabble Nationals were broadcast on We would both be physically beaten by the ESPN. mountain. He would poor himself a vodka That was the golden era of Scrabble. and whatever while I sipped on a Coke. We Scrabble had seen its ups and downs usually had a snack – before. In 1986, Coleco sometimes it was potato bought Selchow & Righter, chips, but usually it was FROM THE OTHER the owners of Scrabble. Unhis favourite, a big can fortunately, Coleco would of Planter’s mixed nuts. go bankrupt a year later, and And then the Scrabble they would cancel the 1987 Jeffrey Morris board would come out.

Scrabble national championMaybe my father was ships. doing that thing where A year later, however, he tricked me into learning and increasing Hasbro stepped up and acquired the Scrabmy vocabulary through something as simple ble license, and they revived competitive as a board game. They did that a lot. My scrabble and the nationals with a huge inmom, who was a high school math teacher, vestment into tournaments. always brought out a Yum or Yahtzee game Things went south for Scrabble. The when I was a kid. I thought we were play- competitive funding was pulled back, and ing a game, but it was another way of COUNCIL them a scandal involving one of the world’s top CORNER tricking me into learning. players and a board member of the North I rarely beat my father in Scrabble, but American Scrabble Players Association Mayor Suzanne Dodge occasionally, it would happen. It usually in- tainted the game. volved me getting a triple word score with a But at the grass roots level, the game was “Z” or a “Q” falling on the triple letter score still being played. square. Everything had to line up write with Board games are still around, though card my tiles. games like Magic: The Gathering, and the My father and I trash talked a lot during interactive world of X-Box and Play Station those Scrabble games. But I think that when THE NOThave SO certainly challenged the relevancy of I won, he was really happy inside. He al- games like Scrabble and Monopoly.

NEW GUY ways wanted me to develop a much grander About a month before the pandemic shut Tim Ruhnke lexicon, but I was painfully less than endown anything and everything in 2020, gaged in high school with anything that did Kingston hosted one of the largest Scrabnot involve basketball and football. ble tournaments of the year. Taking place As my high school years went by, I got at the Residence Inn by Marriott on Earl better at Scrabble. I envisioned myself Street in downtown Kingston, the four-day playing Scrabble competitively some day. tournament began on Fri., Feb. 14 and ran We even bought a copy of Merriam-Web- through Family Day – President’s Day for ster’s Official Scrabble Players Dictionary, the American participants – on Mon., Feb. which we kept with our game. I spent hours 17. There was a Valentine’s Day theme on WALKER HOUSE browsing through that dictionary, looking the first day, complete with a Valentine’s for words I had never heard of that would Day photo booth for registrant couples that Susan Vallom give me an edge against my father, whose had a Scrabble board backdrop. More than command of the English language bordered 70 people entered the tournament and feson Churchillian. tivities at the price of $120 each. They were “Dad,” I remember asking him when I greeted in the hotel with a “Welcome to was about 14. “Do they have pro Scrabble?” Kingston” banner made out of giant Scrab“What?” ble tiles.

“You know, like a pro scrabble league.

Maybe when things get back to normal, a Like the New York Nouns and the AtlantaBLAKE’S road trip to the Kingston Open might be in TAKES Adjectives and the Phoenix Phonics and the order. I don’t know how I would explain to Vancouver Verbs.” the Diva that I would be gone to Kingston Blake McKim He looked at me and just shook his head. for three days to play Scrabble. And I don’t “And maybe we could even subscribe to think she would come and play for three Scrabble Illustrated,” I added. days.

That comment took things a bit too far. He The other day, I was looking for somegave me that look. Disappointment dripped thing and peaked inside the game and toy off his face like soft serve ice cream down cupboard. There, unopened and still in its the side of a cone on a hot summer day. shrink wrap, is a vintage game of Scrabble.

As the years went by, I kept playing I wonder if ‘COVID’ is an official word Scrabble. It was a way to pass time when yet.

SIDE

NEWS

FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 Page 7

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

OC Transpo ridership less than 30 per cent of pre-pandemic levels December is a busy month at City Hall.

The 2021 budget comes before council for a final vote; voting on changing the ward boundaries and adding another city ward in 2022 and a decision on OSEG and Lansdowne Park will all be debated before we break for Christmas.

My position on the budget should be clear.

I’ve written several times now about the need to do a full city program review to find savings. City staff has not done it to the degree that is required, so ask-

ing taxpayers for a three percent tax increase and higher user fees is wrong.

Doing so in a year in which a pandemic cut into revenues and cost the city millions is even more untenable. Senior city staff contend the 2021 draft budget is balanced and responsive to our current situation; I’m not so sure.

Ask yourself what you

would do if you lost your job? Would you continue to spend, dip into your savings and ask for handouts? Case in point, the OC Transpo budget. It’s full service ahead even though ridership has fallen to less than 30 percent of what it was before the pandemic, and it’s raising fares. GM John Manconi says running empty buses is the best option to ensure essential workers get around. He’s relying on the Federal Government to make up the shortfall with millions of more in new handouts. Unless there is a radical shift in

this position, I will vote against the transit budget, as I did last year.

On the Ward boundary issue, Barrhaven will finally get the representation it deserves.

Our rapidly growing community has suffered a bit of an identity crisis since 2006 when east Barrhaven was joined with Riverside South and Findlay Creek to form Gloucester-South Nepean. As the councillor for this ward, I have worked hard to represent the interests of residents.

However, the interests of East Barrhaven are different from those in River-

side South, which is still experiencing growing pains, and residents who are often confused about what ward they live in.

After this boundary review, East and West Barrhaven will be reunited as one very large and vibrant community with two councillors representing them.

The only thing yet to be decided is the boundary line. Will it be Greenbank Road from Fallowfield to Barnsdale? That makes sense on the map but will be a hard sell at Council. That’s because one of the criteria

in changing boundaries was to achieve population parity. If Greenbank Road is chosen as the natural boundary, East Barrhaven would have almost Seventy thousand residents and West Barrhaven half that number. Growth in the west will eventually result in population parity.

Will Council recognize that and approve Greenbank as the boundary?

We will see. Regardless of the outcome, Barrhaven will have another seat around the council table.

Now that is one decision I will have no trouble supporting.

613-738-0330 grand.ca

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Page 8 FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Nick’s Barber Shop To book an appointment go to: nicksbarbershop.net or download wix Invite Code RZEEL9L 1142 Tighe St. Manotick www.nicksbarbershop.net

Carol Anne Meehan

City Councillor • Ward 22 • Gloucester-South Nepean

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday Season! carolanne.meehan@o�awa.ca 613-580-2424 ext. 17022 Subscribe to my newsle�er: www.carolannemeehan.com

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 Page 9

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

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Page 10 FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Need for Barrhaven Food Cupboard up 10 per cent in 2020

By Charlie Senack The Barrhaven Food Cupboard is counting on the community’s support more than ever this Christmas due to high demand caused by COVID-19 Barrhaven Food Cupboard President George MacDonald says the need has gone up 10 per cent this year with more people falling on hard times due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Their business model has also had to change since midMarch, when COVID-19 restrictions forced the food cupboard to operate at a reduced capacity and limit any contact.

“We have restarted collecting food donations from grocery stores and several schools have already conducted food drives this Fall,” he said. “Some businesses and other organizations are also providing support in the form of food and/or monetary donations. This has reduced somewhat the need to purchase non-perishable items but we will always have to purchase the majority of perishable food that we provide.”

With the holiday season upon us, the Barrhaven Food Cupboard would typically be

hard at work preparing their Christmas hampers for families in the community who need a bit of extra support at this time of year. In 2019, 198 hampers were assembled, with each family getting two banana-sized boxes of food.

That tradition will continue this year but will look different due to logistics and COVID-19 restrictions.

“We simply could not have the required number of people together in a confined space to unload food, set it up for an assembly line, and put the hampers together for dispatch,” said MacDonald. “Accordingly, we have had to resort to substituting PC gift cards which are being distributed to those requesting assistance. This is not ideal, but at least we will ensure that those in need have the wherewithal to have enough for a holiday dinner and more.”

Given the new way of operating the Christmas hampers this year and the increase in demand, the Barrhaven Food Cupboard is counting on financial donations to ensure everyone will have food on the table this Christmas.

This year 270 requests have been made to the Barrhaven Food Cupboard for a

Christmas hamper.

“Donations for our Christmas Hamper program have been pretty robust in the past,” said MacDonald. Financial support this year will be more important than ever, given the need to purchase the gift cards and the anticipated demand.

The cost of putting together one Christmas hamper is $125. MacDonald says donations of all sizes are greatly appreciated and recognizes many people have fallen on hard times this year and might not be able to donate as much.

The turkey collection at Boston Pizza has also had to be cancelled this year because of the virus.

According to an annual report by Feed Ontario which was released last week, food bank usage across the Province of Ontario was already increasing in the year leading up to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since March when the pandemic hit, the Ottawa Food Bank has had a 400 per cent increase in calls from people needing food support.

Those who wish to donate to the Barrhaven Food Cupboard can do so online at www.barrhavenfoodcupboard.ca.

Barrhaven Food Cupboard President George MacDonald says the need for the food cupboard has gone up 10 per cent in the past year.

Charlie Senack photo

FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 Page 11

BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Past President Anne McEwen-Cole presents a COVID 19 relief cheque to Executive Director Marilyn Matheson of the Caldwell Family Centre.

Rotary club busy with community COVID 19 support and donations From the South Nepean Rotary Club

If you look up the definition of service club or organization it will say that it is a voluntary non-profit organization where members meet regularly to perform charitable works by direct hands-on efforts, raising money for other worthy organizations and benefactors, or collaborating with other groups that need a hand. Rotary International is such an organization and the local chapter, the Rotary Club of South Nepean, is letting the community know we are here!

Our latest project is to safely reach out to those isolated during this pandemic. People who live alone, whether elderly, or single with no local support

should be thought of, particularly at this time of year.

If you know of anyone who might appreciate a good old fashioned Christmas card or a few kinds words of motivation and kindness, please drop a line to hfwgxstuca@ gmail.com ASAP with the subject heading ROTARY CARDS and provide us a first name only (and with a mailing address). Club members will send nominated individuals an uplifting seasonal note. Nominators’ identities will not be revealed to recipients.

Another recent activity we are proud of is a series of COVID 19 related support donations that we made to five local organizations between May and August.

The Caldwell Family Center, Barrhaven Food Cupboard, Nelson House, the

Nepean Rideau Osgoode Community Resource Center (NROCRC) and the Second Stage Housing Program for youth at the YM/ YWCA were all identified for their food and shelter related relief provisions at this difficult time.

During COVID 19 restrictions, the club has met regularly, twice a month virtually, for social time and to discuss fundraising and other activities that we are passionate about. We invite anyone who is interested in trying something new-developing new skills or just meeting new community minded people-to consider joining us for a meeting.

You can find out more about the Rotary Club of South Nepean on our Facebook page or our website https://rotarynepean.ca/.

South Nepean Rotary Club President Tim Norris presents a COVID 19 relief cheque to NROCRC Executive Director Anita James and Community Liaison Ella Matheson.

OTT-AD-4353 Barrhaven Independant-5.125x12-Visions dance in their heads.indd 1

2020-10-22 2:26 PM

Page 12 FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Socks for the Homeless campaign back for sixth year

By Charlie Senack

Socks for the Homeless is back for their sixth year in a row, but this year operations are different because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Longtime Barrhaven residents David and Marion Rattray started the initiative back in 2015 as a way of helping the city’s homeless population get through the colder months. A few hundred pairs of socks were donated every year at the beginning of the initiative, but last year 22,000 pairs were collected and distributed.

In a normal year, there are multiple spots around the city where people can donate new or gently used socks. However due to the COVID-19 pandemic and people being asked to stay home, the Rattrays alongside their good friends David and Debi Sereda — also from Barrhaven —

had to get creative.

“Our regular drop-off collection points at Legion Branches, high schools and the many businesses are either closed or unable to accept donations,” said David Rattray in a press release. “Socks for the Homeless has had to adapt like so many others by being creative by going virtual this year and work more diligently to raise well over 20,000 pairs of mens’, womens’ and childrens’ socks to keep the feet of the thousands who live on our streets, warm and healthy.”

The city of Ottawa has recently declared a homelessness crisis, and the situation is only getting worse with people falling on hard times because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ottawa has seen a 50 per cent increase in homelessness this year; the increase because many people were left not being able to pay their bills

after losing their jobs in the first round of COVID closures.

It’s a known fact that keeping your feet warm is essential for your physical health. For those who live on the streets, they spend much of their day on their feet, trying to find the next warm and safe place to stay and service.

David Rattray says out of all the clothing needs of the homeless, socks are the most important.

“Socks get the most wear and tear and become filthy the fastest,” he said.

“And without the means to keep their clothing washed, socks need to be discarded most often. If not, people’s feet quickly deteriorate. Athlete’s foot is very common, corns and blisters are just things homeless people must live with every day. A new pair of warm socks makes a world of difference for an adult or child in need.”

Socks for the Homeless

has partnered with Giant Tiger for this year’s initiative. They will take all the money raised to buy socks of all kind in bulk at a discounted rate. The socks will then be distributed to four shelters around the city including: the Shepherds of Good Hope, The Ottawa Mission, and the Youth Services Bureau Foundations, as well as the Salvation Army.

Anyone who wished to donate to Socks for the Homeless can do so on their website at www. rcl641.ca/Socks4homeless. Also new this year, tax receipts will be available for personal donations.

Longtime Barrhaven residents David and Marion Rattray started the Socks for the Homeless initiative in 2015 as a way of helping the city’s homeless population get through the colder months.

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Page 14 FRIDAY, December 11, 2020 BARRHAVEN INDEPENDENT

Barrhaven university students start initiative to help homeless

By Charlie Senack A group of Barrhaven university students are finding ways to help the city’s homeless population after the COVID-19 health pandemic has made living on the streets even more challenging.

Ragav Chona, 19 and Aryan Singh, 19, both from Barrhaven, decided to start the ‘Goodwill Initiative’ alongside a few friends after their summer was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The two teens are both studying biomedicine and were looking forward to their co-op placements which were supposed to get underway this summer.

“Initially we had research internships and co-op terms that were all cancelled, so we thought it would be a good idea just to get involved in the community someway,” says Chona, who is in his second year at Ottawa University. “We saw other organizations doing their part to try and help, so we were inspired by them to pursue our own sort of initiative.”

“Since we had so much free time on our hands with COVID, we could use that free time to make a positive change in so-

ciety and that is what we tried to do,” echoed Singh who is in his second year at the University of Waterloo. “I would like to say that we did make a positive change.”

Chona says the homeless population are often neglected in normal times, an issue which has increased with the new need for personal protective equipment.

“They don’t have the necessities to remain clean or they don’t have the proper PPE,” he says.

“They live in shelters which are crowded and that can really increase their vulnerability to COVID-19. We knew we had to help in some way.”

As a way to help, the four young students came up with the idea of the ‘Goodwill Initiative’, an opportunity to create sanitization kits to be dropped off at homeless shelters and organizations which help vulnerable members of the community.

“We pitched the idea at like 3 am in the morning and we recruited some of our closest friends to help out. The first step was to create a production facility in one of our friends’ condos,” states Chona. “That is where we ordered all our products and organized all

Barrhaven university students started the ‘Goodwill Initiative’, an opportunity to create sanitization kits to be dropped off at homeless shelters and organizations which help vulnerable members of the community.

our sponsorship items.”

The group used social media to reach out to the community for donations, received a few sponsorships from businesses and also got a grant from a group called ‘Rising Youth’.

“There was no way we could pitch in $4000 out

of our own pockets, so we knew it would be better for the community to contribute to such a project,” said Singh.

In total, over 1000 kits were made over the summer with over 28,000 items being purchased from the nearly $4,000 which was donated. Over 250 meals

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The students are back in school and admit it’s been tough trying to find the time to carry on with such projects. They took the fall to come up with a game plan for the winter and plan to start helping the homeless population in the community again

soon.

“We want to do a winter kit project as well where we collect essentials like a fundrasupply drive for jackets, snow pants and stuff like that — things that provide warmth to these people who are living outside of the shelters,” said Chona.

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